Flavio Briatore Sparks Controversy: “Let’s Have 24 Sprint Races or Scrap Fridays!”
In a bold declaration that’s sending shockwaves through the Formula 1 community, Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore has made it clear that he wants more action in the racing calendar. During an interview with Sky Sport F1 amidst the Bahrain testing, the 75-year-old veteran of the motorsport world laid down his vision for the future of F1: a staggering doubling of Sprint races, from a potential 6 to a jaw-dropping 24!
Briatore’s remarks come at a time when the F1 calendar is evolving, and his fervent stance is anything but diplomatic. “I would prefer 24 Sprint races,” Briatore exclaimed, emphasizing the need for more excitement on the track. “Otherwise, let’s just get rid of Friday altogether!” His sharp critique targets the current format, where Fridays are often seen as lackluster, primarily reserved for engineers to fine-tune setups, leaving fans craving more thrilling content.
The Alpine boss’s proposal is a direct challenge to the traditionalists who have long been skeptical about the Sprint format. Unlike the “old-school” fans, who may feel that Sprints detract from the grand spectacle of F1, Briatore argues that the current structure is insufficient. “What do fans see on a Friday? It’s just engineers working on setups. We need to give the audience something exciting to watch!”
Drawing parallels with MotoGP, where Sprint races have become a staple since their introduction in 2023, Briatore is calling for F1 to adopt a similar model. “With Sprints, drivers are racing for something,” he said passionately. “I’ve told Stefano Domenicali that I would support making both a main race and a Sprint a fixed part of every weekend. This way, we engage our audience right from Friday, showcasing something interesting instead of leaving them hanging until Saturday.”
His comments raise an essential question: is the current Friday format truly serving the fans? “If we eliminate Fridays, we can focus on racing on Saturday and Sunday,” he argued. “People want to see competition, not just a glorified practice session. And let’s be clear—if teams want to introduce new parts, they can still do that during the race.”
Briatore’s fiery comments ignite a crucial debate about the future of Formula 1 and how it can adapt to meet the evolving demands of its audience. Will the FIA heed his call for more thrilling Sprint races, or will they cling to tradition? One thing is certain: with Briatore at the helm of this conversation, the future of Formula 1 is set to be anything but boring.
